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Zendaya on the 'Sisterhood' Fighting Sexual Harassment in Hollywood

Zendaya is praising women of Hollywood for helping protect her from sexual harassment by speaking out about their own experiences.

The actress reacts to recent allegations of harassment during a cover interview for the new issue of InStyle.

“The bravery of the women who came forward is a huge step toward making sure it’s safer for me and other young women who are just coming up,” the 21-year-old star says. “I’m at that prime age right now. Twenty-one. Starting off. That’s when people take advantage and abuse their power and do terrible sh*t. I think it’s definitely a sisterhood.”

While being possibly prone to inappropriate behavior is a downside to being a successful young woman in Hollywood, Zendaya also discusses some of the favorable parts of her status and fame -- like having others look up to her.

“I realize that [being a role model] is actually a huge part of the job,” she says. “You sign up for that. You’re being watched. You can choose to accept that and appreciate it, or you can choose not to … I choose to acknowledge it.”

“I just try to live, and, you know, sh*t happens,” she adds about the legacy she hopes to leave. “I’ve said it a million times, but I’d rather be known for the active change I’ve made than for what my name stands for.”

InStyle

The young talent also talks about her new unisex fashion line and opens up about getting to work with Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron in the upcoming movie, The Greatest Showman.

Playing the role of Anne Wheeler, she identified with many parts of the character.

“A big part of my character’s storyline, the reason that she is an oddity, is that she and her brother are black … I’m biracial, so there are many [shared] experiences there,” she says.